Men’s spring golf under way

The men's golf team's spring season kicked off in Phoenix this week at the ReBath Snowman Getaway, a 54-hole tournament.

Their first two events are the earliest Gonzaga has ever competed in the spring season.
In the ReBath Snowman Getaway Tournament Monday and Tuesday, Gonzaga finished in 11th place.

Team captain Derek Cheney paced the Bulldogs, shooting a 229 in the 54-hole tournament. Kevin Parkhurst shot the best round on the team, shooting a final-round 73 and finishing tied for 38th.

While these early tournaments are important, Gonzaga is staying focused on its main goal.
"The hope every season is to win conference and move onto regionals" Azzarito said. "We have the right stuff to do it; it just needs to click this season."

To do this, the team will need to learn from the fall season and make adjustments in each of its games.

Entering his 11th year as head coach, Coach Robert Gray is very optimistic about the spring season upon them.

The team neared its best fall season last semester, and to compete with that this semester it will need to make smart decisions and work hard on the course, according to Gray.
"We have a very competitive schedule this spring," Gray said. "We just need to get a little more of the rust off and we should post our best spring season."

Last spring the team finished fifth at the West Coast Conference Championships, tying Santa Clara for the spot.

 "We have been doing workouts in the offseason, and hitting indoors to keep our swing," senior Jason Azzarito said.

The weather in Spokane during the offseason months is not typically ideal for outdoor practice, making it difficult for Gonzaga's team to keep up with the competition.
"We have to work hard to try to compete with the other schools that have been practicing all winter," Azzarito said.

The unanticipated balmy winter Spokane has experienced this year, however, has been a gift to the men's golf team. It has already been able to visit the Fairways Golf Course a few times, in addition to two trips to Columbia Point and Meadow Springs, giving them a welcomed edge this season.

"The courses and competition are harder than at the community college that I transferred from — this season I just have to work hard to put up some good numbers,"  Azzarito said when asked what he has learned, and hopes to change from last season.

Cheney and Azzarito have risen to the responsibilities of being the two seniors on the team and Gonzaga will rely heavily on them as it aims for regionals.

"Coming off of last fall, we really relied on Derek Cheney, Kyle Huus, Jason Azzarito and Travis Johnsen. The others have been finding their games and have shown solid progress over the winter," Gray said when asked about each player's role on the team.
The team's hard work this winter will be put to the test over the course of this season, as it will be challenged to do some damage on the course and earn a spot at regionals.
The next event for the men will be the Braveheart Classic Monday and Tuesday hosted by UC Riverside.

"All will travel to our first two events so we'll get a chance to see how the off-season work has paid off; I know everyone is looking forward to some competition," Gray said.